Challenge – Page 39 – Peninim on the Torah

“Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generations.” (6:9)

Rashi cites a difference of opinion regarding the meaning of b’dorosav, in his generation. Some are of the opinion that Noach was a tzaddik in a generation that was evil, immoral and hedonistic. If he could ascend to spiritual leadership in such an environment, then he could certainly succeed in a generation such as Avraham’s. Others contend that Noach seemed to be a tzaddik only because he was alive during a period of evil unparalleled in our history. Had he lived, however, in Avraham’s generation, his righteousness would not really have appeared as great. Some interpret Noach in a positive…

Home -> 5772 -> Acharei Mos

אחרי מות שני בני אהרן בקרבתם לפני ד' וימתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Acharei Mos, 5772

After the death of Aharon’s two sons, when they approached before Hashem, and they died. (16:1)

The Midrash says that when Iyov heard about the tragic deaths of the two sons of Aharon HaKohen, he said, Af l’zos yecherad libi v’yitar mimkomo; “Even for this, my heart trembles and it leaps from its place” (Iyov 37:1). Iyov had suffered as no other man. He believed that he did not deserve such extreme pain and misery to be visited upon him. He had led a virtuous and pious life, and he had done no wrong, certainly nothing of the caliber to warrant such serious punishment. He claimed that the physical/emotional pain of losing his children and his…

Home -> 5759 -> Korach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Korach, 5759

Fire emerged from Hashem and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who had offered incense… The fire pans of those who sinned against theirs souls – make them into beaten plates, a cover for the Altar. (16:35, 17:3)

As part of Korach’s rebellion, the two hundred and fifty men who were part of Korach’s group were to offer incense in fire pans. They received their due punishment in that they were being consumed by a fire from Hashem. Their fire pans, instead of being discarded, were melted and shaped into a covering for the Mizbayach. Until now the Altar had been a hollow frame which was filled with dirt every time Klal Yisrael camped. Now, the outside surface was to be covered with a thin mass plating composed of the sinner’s fire pans. This is enigmatic! Is it…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Bamidbar

Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying: “The Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” (2:1,2)

The Midrash discusses the remarkable level of sanctity achieved by Klal Yisrael as a result of their degalim, banners. Indeed, Chazal cite a dialogue between the gentile nations in which they attempt to dissuade Klal Yisrael from maintaining their allegiance to Hashem. Klal Yisrael’s response to the gentiles’ negativity was the beauty and sanctity of the degalim that evoked their pride in being Jewish. We must endeavor to understand what it is about the degalim that engendered such feelings of self – esteem and pride. Horav Mordechai Rogov, zl, offers two responses to this question. He explains that Torah and…

Home -> 5759 -> Balak

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Balak, 5759

From the top of rocks I see him and from the hills I behold him. (23:9)

Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, interprets this pasuk as a perspective on history. Just as distances draw together in a panoramic view from a height, so it is with time. From a comprehensive survey of world history over centuries taken from above, events seem close together. When one views these events from the closer perspective of the present, they seem farther from one another. To quote Horav Mordechai Gifter, Shlita, “If one wishes to comprehend an event in history, one cannot look at it in the limited scope of the finite, here and now; rather, one must understand the event as…

Home -> 5759 -> Balak

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Balak, 5759

Make for yourself a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole; and it shall be that everyone that is bitten when he sees it, shall live. (21:8)

The narrative stimulates a number of questions: Why did Moshe Rabbeinu fashion the serpent of copper? Why not of another substance, such as clay or wood? Is there a relationship between the word nachash, serpent, and the word nechoshes, copper? Why was this serpent placed upon a pole? How is one who is bitten by a serpent cured simply by gazing at the serpent? Horav Avigdor Miller, Shlita, addresses these questions in his commentary on this parsha. The serpent is a symbol of the yetzer hora, evil inclination. The yetzer hora’s strength lies in its ability to be elusive, to…

Home -> 5755 -> Shelach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5755

“And the people wept that night.” (14:1)

The slanderous statements of the meraglim, spies, achieved their intended purpose; Bnei Yisrael believed them and were terrified to enter Eretz Yisrael. That night, which happened to be Tishah b’Av, the people withdrew to their tents and began lamenting the terrible “fate” in store for them. Thus began a night of ceaseless crying, one which would go down in history as a night of unwarranted weeping. The Talmud in Taanis 28a states that Hashem said to Bnei Yisrael, “You wept without reason, I will provide you with a weeping for generations.” This refers to Tishah b’Av when both Batei Mikdash…

Home -> 5755 -> Shelach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Shelach, 5755

“And Calev silenced the people toward Moshe.” (13:30)

Calev attempted to still the rebellious hysteria of Bnei Yisrael. Confident that he would continue with the same type of slander as the other spies, the people listened to him when he rose to speak. He began his remarks in an inciteful manner by saying, “Is that all the son of Amram has done to us?” Upon hearing this opening statement, the crowd became silent anticipating a vicious censure against Moshe Rabbeinu. Calev, however, sought to attract their attention. He added, “He took us out of Egypt, split the sea, brought us the manna, and gathered together the quail.” Although…

Home -> 5753 -> Vayeitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5753

“And (Yaakov) raised his voice and cried” (29:11)

After a long journey, Yaakov Avinu finally arrived in Padan Aram and encountered his future wife, Rachel. One would expect Yaakov to have expressed profound joy at the momentous occasion of this first meeting. Instead of rejoicing, however, Yaakov cried. Rashi explains that Yaakov cried because he was grieved that he came to Rachel empty-handed. In contrast, his father, Yitzchak, had been sent with jewelry to meet his future wife, Rivkah. Yaakov’s sudden poverty is attributed to an unusual altercation between Yaakov and Elifaz, Eisav’s son. When Yaakov ran from his parents’ home, he narrowly escaped the venomous wrath of…

Home -> 5775 -> Kedoshim

ואהבת לרעך כמוך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Kedoshim, 5775

You shall love your fellow as yourself. (19:18)

Rabbi Akiva declares that the mitzvah of ahavas Yisrael, to love one’s fellow as himself, is the fundamental rule of the Torah. Hillel paraphrased this mitzvah, Man d’alach sani l’chaveircha lo saavid, “What is hateful to you, do not do unto others.” When a gentile came to Hillel and asked to be converted “while I stand on one leg,” he responded with the above rule. The question is asked why Hillel did not use the pasuk, V’ahavata l’reiacha kamocha, to respond to the gentile. The Chidushei HaRim explains that, since the fellow was still a gentile, he was unable to…

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“Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generations.” (6:9)

אחרי מות שני בני אהרן בקרבתם לפני ד' וימתו

After the death of Aharon’s two sons, when they approached before Hashem, and they died. (16:1)

Fire emerged from Hashem and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who had offered incense… The fire pans of those who sinned against theirs souls – make them into beaten plates, a cover for the Altar. (16:35, 17:3)

Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying: “The Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” (2:1,2)

From the top of rocks I see him and from the hills I behold him. (23:9)

Make for yourself a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole; and it shall be that everyone that is bitten when he sees it, shall live. (21:8)

“And the people wept that night.” (14:1)

“And Calev silenced the people toward Moshe.” (13:30)

“And (Yaakov) raised his voice and cried” (29:11)

ואהבת לרעך כמוך

You shall love your fellow as yourself. (19:18)

YEARS

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